37th summit of the African Union: The situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo at the center of concerns

The security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo was at the heart of the 37th summit of the African Union. On 17 and 18 February 2024, leaders met in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, against a backdrop of multiple crises. Recent coups d’état, political unrest in Senegal and armed conflicts, notably the security crisis in the DRC, dominated the summit agenda.

With the theme of the summit being “Educating 21st Century Africa: Building Resilient Education Systems for Improved Access to Quality, Relevant and Inclusive Lifelong Learning in Africa”, discussions transcended immediate security concerns, aiming for holistic societal development. The summit also aimed to amplify the continent’s voice within the G20, a platform it joined in September.

Urgent concerns

Sudan is in the grip of unrest and Somalia remains under threat from jihadists, said Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the AU Commission, before the summit opened. He also expressed concern about the situation in the Horn of Africa, persistent tensions in the east of the DRC, instability in Libya and the “terrorist threat” in the Sahel region.

The resurgence of military coups, pre- and post-election violence, humanitarian crises caused by war and/or the effects of climate change are major concerns for us,” he said at the opening of the AU Executive Council, which brought together the foreign affairs ministers of the member states. He noted that these factors seriously threaten to tarnish the signs of Africa’s emergence.

In addition, six of the 55 Member States were absent from the summit, suspended due to coups d’état. Gabon and Niger have joined Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Faso among the nations banned in 2023.

A cascade of armed conflicts

However, the organisation’s manageability is threatened by the security challenges facing the continent, which is grappling with a myriad of multifaceted armed conflicts (Sudan, Sahel, Somalia, Democratic Republic of Congo…), some of which have been going on for many years.

Mini-summit on the situation in the DRC

As a mediator appointed by the AU, Angolan President João Lourenço convened an extraordinary mini-summit on the security situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This important meeting, which took place on Friday 16 February 2024 in Addis Ababa, was part of efforts to address the escalating crisis in the region. The urgency of the matter was underlined by the holding of the mini-summit on the evening of the day before the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, held on 17 and 18 February 2024 in Addis Ababa.

Its main objective was to revitalise the peace process in the east of the DRC following the deployment of the Southern African Development Community Intervention Brigade (SAMIRDC), approved in August 2023 in Luanda. The mini-summit was attended by nine heads of state from ten countries, including Angola, Burundi, Equatorial Guinea, Malawi, Kenya, DRC, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, with Tanzania joining the event as a guest, as well as representatives of the AU Commission. The inclusion of Uganda underlines the wider regional implications of the current crisis.

Diplomatic efforts abound in the region to ease the ongoing tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, the main supporter of the M23 terrorist group responsible for the deteriorating security situation in North Kivu province. While some consider that previous diplomatic initiatives have failed due to Rwanda’s lack of cooperation, others advocate their reactivation as a necessary step forward.

The convening of this mini-summit took place against a backdrop of clashes between the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Wazalendo militia, and M23 terrorists, supported by the Rwandan army, particularly in the vicinity of Sake, in the Masisi territory of North Kivu province. These developments underline the critical need for rapid and concerted action to restore stability and foster lasting peace in the region.

President Tshisekedi has firmly stated his position. According to Tina Salama, spokesperson for the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the President stressed that the M23 was an “empty shell” and that he was prepared to enter into discussions with Rwanda (the real aggressor of the DRC), but without concessions. This statement came as the Rwandan President, as usual, raised the issue of the FDLR and criticised the presence of SADC troops in the DRC. President Tshisekedi thus seems inclined to emphasise the need for dialogue with regional players, while keeping Congo’s interests firmly in mind.

Observers note that this position demonstrates the Congolese President’s firmness on the issue of security in the east of the country while opening the way for dialogue with regional players.

Conclusion

The 37th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa faced a myriad of challenges, including recent coups d’état, political unrest, and armed conflict on the continent. Despite these daunting circumstances, the summit aimed to strengthen Africa’s voice in the international community and promote holistic societal development. Efforts were made to address urgent security concerns, in particular through a mini-summit on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. President Tshisekedi’s firm stance underlined the importance of dialogue while prioritising Congo’s interests in the region. As observers have noted, his resolute stance indicates a commitment to addressing security issues in the east of his country while remaining open to constructive engagement with regional stakeholders.